A statement from Guterres’ office said that Connors “will support an integrated, strategic response to victim assistance in coordination with United Nations system actors with responsibility for assisting victims.” Connors will work with governmental and non-governmental organizations alike to “build networks of support and to help ensure that the full effect of local laws, including remedies for victims, are brought to bear,” it added.

Connors currently serves as Amnesty International’s advocacy director for law and policy.
She previously worked at the UN in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

At present, the UN can investigate abuse allegations and remove accused peacekeepers. However, any legal action must be taken by the soldiers’ country of origin, which often means that blue helmets accused of sexual exploitation have not had to face official charges.

The UN has been shaken by a series of allegations against its peacekeeping soldiers stationed in multiple African countries. In 2016, accusations surfaced that blue helmets on a peacekeeping mission in the CAR had committed sexual crimes including sexual assault, rape, abuse of minors and transactional sex. After investigating, the UN identified 41 suspected soldiers from Gabon and Burundi in December 2016 before passing proceedings onto those countries.

The in June 2017, the Republic of the Congo withdrew around 600 of its troops in the CAR in relation to sexual abuse allegations, leaving some 140 Congolese soldiers under the UN banner.

Peacekeepers in Haiti have also allegedly committed sexual exploitation crimes.